Statement from Premier Pillai on the Council of the Federation Washington, D.C., mission

Premier Ranj Pillai has issued the following statement:

“Last week, alongside my fellow Premiers, I travelled to Washington, D.C., to reinforce the deep and enduring ties between Canada and the United States. As a unified voice, all 13 territorial and provincial Premiers reinforced the significance of Canada-U.S. relations and challenged harmful tariffs.

“We met with key representatives from Congress, business leaders and

policy experts to discuss Arctic security and the importance of maintaining strong trade and economic ties. The meetings included a discussion at the White House with senior officials close to President Trump, including Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair. As Premiers, we gained valuable insight into the administration’s approach and emphasized the need for cross-border cooperation – particularly in addressing the alarming rise of fentanyl, which has severely impacted the Yukon and communities in both countries.

“To bring northern voices to the international stage, I joined Premier of the Northwest Territories R.J. Simpson and Premier of Nunavut P.J. Akeeagok in a panel discussion at the Wilson Center. We highlighted our territories’ role in Arctic security, the strategic importance of critical minerals and the need for Indigenous-led economic initiatives.

“Building a strong, resilient economy in the Yukon remains a top priority for this government, which is why I focused discussions on how we can strengthen cross-border trade, investment and infrastructure partnerships. In addition, as part of a meeting hosted by the Canadian American Business Council, I met with business leaders to explore opportunities for increased investment in the Yukon. I then met with Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and House Representative Nick Begich to discuss our relations with Alaska. We talked about the importance of working together as neighbours and the impact of tariffs on both our citizens.

“While recent trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. remain a concern, it is important that there is constructive dialogue and solutions that reinforce the mutual economic benefits of a strong partnership. Our economies are deeply interconnected and it is in our mutual interest to foster trade policies that support growth, innovation and prosperity on both sides of the border. Canada and the United States have always found ways to work through challenges and I am confident we will continue to do so.

“Thank you to my fellow Premiers for standing united as Team Canada throughout this trip and a special thanks to Ontario Premier Doug Ford in his role as the current Council of the Federation Chair for leading these efforts.

“Together, we are defending Canadian jobs, our economy and our way of life.”